protester derails – A protester interrupted Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Tuesday congressional testimony, shouting that he should “stop supporting Israel” and calling Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon “genocide.” Rubio paused briefly, shrugged off the disruption, an
When Secretary of State Marco Rubio started testifying before Congress on Tuesday, the room briefly stopped making sense.
A man in the chamber began shrieking at Rubio to “stop supporting Israel” and attacked U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon as “genocide.” Rubio paused for a few seconds while the protester shouted. then moved on. The interruption didn’t last long. but it set the tone for the rest of the day as activists pressed their case outside the hearing and in video posted afterward.
“Stop supporting Israel! Stop supporting Israel! Israel committed a genocide in Palestine, it’s still ongoing, and now they’re committing another genocide in Lebanon. And what are you doing?! You’re serving Israel!” the man shouted.
As he was removed from the chamber, the protester could be heard screeching “stop serving Israel!” Rubio responded with a blunt “alright,” shrugged off the disruption, and picked up where he left off.
Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin posted a brief video showing protesters shouting at Rubio in the hallway as he moved through it. accusing him of being a “war criminal.” In that same clip. one protester said. “The blood of Palestinians and Iranians and Lebanese people are on your hands. ” and followed with “Shame on you.”.
Code Pink describes itself as a “women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism.” The group’s website says it demands “justice and liberation” for Palestinians.
Video posted by NewsNation reporter Joe Khalil showed officers handcuffing a male protester in the hallway. It remained unclear whether that handcuffed man was the same protester who interrupted Rubio during testimony because the man who shouted inside the hearing was not shown on video. Khalil’s post also suggested—based on pictures from the AP—that there may have been two different men involved.
In Khalil’s video, the bespectacled and disheveled protester yelped that the Trump administration was “literally killing people.” Behind him, other protesters chanted “Rubio lies, people with AIDS die” while clapping and calling out Rubio.
The clash around Rubio’s appearance came as activists confronted him over U.S. support for war and destruction in Palestine, Lebanon, Cuba, Iran and more.
Rubio’s day of pressure also included a separate confrontation with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). The exchange followed Booker’s claim that President Donald Trump was “begging” Iran for a peace deal. Rubio and Booker sparred directly after that characterization. even as protesters outside the hearing kept chanting their own accusation that Rubio was tied to war decisions.
The hearings proceeded. but the message the protesters brought into the building was blunt and sustained—inside the chamber with a sudden interruption. and outside with handcuffs. chanting. and fresh video that turned a routine moment of testimony into a public fight over Gaza. Lebanon. and what the administration is doing next.
Marco Rubio Secretary of State Congress testimony Code Pink Medea Benjamin protester interruption Israel genocide allegation Gaza Lebanon Cory Booker Iran peace deal Trump administration activists arrested